It’s a decades-old debate — what is
the best form of treatment for people
with mental illness who are incarcerated
or homeless? A number
of contributors to the New York
Times opinion page, “Room for Debate,”
on May 9 tackled that question
by commenting on what works
and whether asylums should be reopened. Click to view/download (PDF, 234KB, 8 pages)

New Introduction to Emotional CPR Training Video is now available

A Public Health Education Program

This DVD uses a combination of discussion and scenarios taken from real life to illustrate the values and practice of Emotional CPR (eCPR), an exciting and innovative public health education program designed to teach people how to support others through emotional crisis/distress and into recovery.

Emotional CPR (eCPR) is a public health education program designed to teach people to assist others through an emotional crisis by three simple steps: C = Connecting, P = emPowering, and R = Revitalizing. People who have been through the training consistently report that the skills they learned have helped them communicate better in all their relationships. They tell us that eCPR is a way of life. Presenters used real life stories to explore how eCPR is healing communities, including:

How eCPR is being incorporated into diverse cultures and communities across the U.S. and overseas

How eCPR is being used to heal trauma and intergenerational violence

How eCPR is an effective suicide prevention approach

How eCPR is useful for law enforcement/public safety personnel

Endorsements

CARF International cites Emotional CPR

CARF International cites eCPR as “a holistic, empowering approach to assisting persons served to cope with emotional crisis” in their Behavioral Health Standards Manual. eCPR is included as an example of staff training in the use of alternative interventions. CARF accredits health and human services, including behavioral health, on five continents.

Use of a Reflecting Team

Emotional CPR (eCPR) Participant Workbook

This workbook was developed for the eCPR certification training and provides a thoughtful discussion of the values of eCPR, the features of dialogue, and the primary components of eCPR: C = Connection, P = emPowering, and R = Revitalizing. Other sections include how to prepare oneself to provide eCPR as well as tips for self-care. The workbook is filled with inspiring quotes, real-life examples of embodying the practice of eCPR, sample instructions for role plays, and other exercises. The workbook is designed for anyone who may encounter a person in emotional crisis - law enforcement, mental health peers, mental health providers, family members, and others.

What is eCPR?

Emotional CPR (eCPR) is an educational program designed to teach people to assist others through an emotional crisis by three simple steps:

C = ConnectingP = emPowering, and R = Revitalizing.

The Connecting process of eCPR involves deepening listening skills, practicing presence, and creating a sense of safety for the person experiencing a crisis. The emPowering process helps people better understand how to feel empowered themselves as well as to assist others to feel more hopeful and engaged in life. In the Revitalizating process, people re-engage in relationships with their loved ones or their support system, and they resume or begin routines that support health and wellness which reinforces the person’s sense of mastery and accomplishment, further energizing the healing process.

eCPR is based on the principles found to be shared by a number of support approaches: trauma-informed care, counseling after disasters, peer support to avoid continuing emotional despair, emotional intelligence, suicide prevention, and cultural attunement. It was developed with input from a diverse cadre of recognized leaders from across the U.S., who themselves have learned how to recover and grow from emotional crises. They have wisdom by the grace of first- hand experience.

For more information, to schedule an introductory workshop or a certification training in eCPR, or If you would like to be an eCPR Ambassador and help spread the word about this exciting program, send us an email via the contact form, or call 877-246-9058.

What is emotional crisis?

Crisis as Universal Experience

Emotional crisis is a universal experience. It can happen to anyone, at any time. When we are exposed
to this extraordinary situation, we develop amazing and creative ways to protect ourselves, To onlookers,
these protective mechanisms may look very odd, even "crazy". To us, they have meaning. Through using
eCPR we can better understand and overcome our fear of seemingly unusual behavior brought on by an emotional crisis. Through eCPR we learn how to form supportive connections that empower the person in emotional crisis so they are able to feel revitalized and quickly resume meaningful roles in the community.